Blonde Highlights

(from left) members of the group Rizon — Gordon Lau,
Leilani Lau, Eddie Pugay and Robert Hayno — at Relay
For Life Magic Island

MAGIC ISLAND at Ala Moana Beach Park became the track and playground for more than 1,000 supporters of the American Cancer Society’s 2006 Relay For Life Honolulu last weekend. Thanks to a lineup of fresh entertainment with groups like One Touch Band, Rizon, Local Uprising, Zachary Shimizu and others, teams of participants easily danced, ate and walked all night long during ACS’s annual flagship fundraiser. Emcee Sean Douglas Hoban (formerly Sean D. during his radio days) kept things going straight through the night - literally 12 hours here - with the endurance of a thoroughbred. This year marks Hoban’s sixth year as master of the mic for the event. You can also find him on Saturday nights at The W. While there, I met Honolulu Police Department Lt. Fabian Loo, a 23-year veteran of the force and his wife, Ramona, also an HPD officer. The two were on volunteer special duties for Relay. Loo also happens to be a six-year cancer survivor. I spotted him a few lengths ahead of me during the “survivor lap.”

Also making an appearance was Mrs. Hawaii United Nations Megan Walsh, a member of team Prime Care and OC-16’s Rose Baraquio Harman with her husband, John, both donning purple shirts, representative of their Hawaiian Airlines team. On the news front, KHNL’s Beth Hillyer, Stephen Florino and Tim McRoberts covered the night’s festivities. ... Another annual event coming up soon is Starbuck’s 36th Ukulele Festival on Sunday, July 30, at Kapiolani Park Bandstand. The musical lineup is full of huge talent with Danny Kaleikini, Ohta San, Herb Ohta Jr., Bryan Tolentino, Brittni Paiva, Holunape and Manoa DNA. Event creator and ukulele legend Roy Sakuma promises an even bigger and better show this year. “We are expecting over 150 performers from out of state, the most ever to participate in the Ukulele Festival. Little did I realize that what started as a concert in the park with about 100 people would turn into a major concert attracting people from all over the world.” Beginning at 9:30 a.m., festival-goers will enjoy four hours of free music. ... From music to television we visit a new series on PBS Hawaii. K5 sports commentator Jim Leahey and son Kanoa, KHON sports director, teamed up for the premiere of Leahey & Leahey earlier this month. The duo brings their generational gap to the kitchen table for wala’au sessions on various topics. Father and son answered a few questions for Blonde Highlights as an example of just how different they can be. Favorite movie? Mr. Roberts starring Henry Fonda for Jim, Hoosiers for Kanoa. Books they’re reading now?

Praying for Gil Hodges by Thomas Oliphant for Jim, Broken Trust for Kanoa. And in case you’re wondering if they could be anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would they go? Hana, Maui, for Jim, Molokai for Kanoa. ... And speaking of the kitchen, Auntie Pasto’s Ed Wary found himself in the restaurant’s culinary arena busy creating mushroom pasta and pesto lasagna for guests who showed up for the launch of Movin’Out, the Billy Joel-Twyla Tharp musical that’s coming to the Blaisdell Concert Hall Sept. 8. The eatery proved the perfect destination for the luncheon since the hit Broadway show is based on Joel’s song, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. ... And this week’s final highlight- it’s farewell for Billy V. at KCCN FM 100. The radio mainstay moves to the Hawaiian Music Station 105 KINE to do mornings beginning Aug. 7. Billy says, “It will be a bittersweet 16th annual Birthday Bash for me. It will be the last one as stage manager and emcee. I have a new ‘ohana that is making me feel very welcome, and I can’t wait to talk story with the listeners. Everything is new to me except the music - it’s what I listen to anyway. I’m a real heavy listener of both traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music and I love them both.” ...